Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia

A Syrian court sentenced Bashar Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Syria’s 14-year conflict. Atef Najib, Assad’s cousin, was also sentenced to death in the same case for leading a crackdown in Daraa province. Amid tight security, Najib stood inside a cage as the judge read the sentence, following Assad and his brother's flight to Russia.